selfish to refuse the mmr?

many children and young adults are not being vaccinated against mmr.i have a young child and worry for the future if everyone had the mmr it would make three diseases history/extint.with people not protecting their loved ones these diseases are making a comeback.people with cancer ,low immune systems due to serious health problems eg transplant patients, and pregnant ladies and newborn babies are at risk.in the future it could be my daughter in law who is pregnant (lets say her mum didnt give her the mmr injection) she caught rubella known as german measles it could cause our grandchild to be stillborn or brain damage or heart defects/loss of hearing/bith defects.so the mmr does effect other people not just the person who is not vaccinated.

if my mum didnt give me the jab when i was younger i would be worried if i was pregnant with the outbreak.i would think she was selfish,thoughtless.if my baby had a problem i would think my mum could have prevented this by giving me the mmr = i wonder how my mum would feel.on the other side some dont want to risk autism or mercury ,poison injected into their child they love. what are your views? is it selfish not to give mmr?

I suspect a lot of people simply do forget about the vaccine - in my area you don't get a reminder letter, and the advice on when to get the top up is conflicting. This is an area where they have historically had a low take-up. Plus my younger child is due their first dose of MMR right now but it is so hard to get an appointment with the nurse that I have considered having it done privately. I think they ought to be capitalising on what is going on in Wales and running drop-ins to get the rate up where it needs to be. I am a bit surprised the Government isn't putting more pressure on to achieve this.

" "Natural" immunity from catching the actual illness is no better than immunity conferred by immunisation."

I wouldn't say so, considering that:

(1) You will probably, but not necessarily, be immune to a disease after vaccination (i.e. vaccinated kids sometimes get the disease) whereas you will be immune after having the disease.

and

(2) Vaccine immunity wanes after some years and can possibly leave you vulnerable as an adult, whereas natural immunity following disease is forever.

Therefore, natural immunity from catching the disease itself is far better to vaccine immunity. The question is whether or not you want to risk having the disease to have this superior immunity.

In the case of rubella, the disease itself is very benign, so I would actually want DC to have it and be immune for life. Vaccinating babies for a disease they only really need to be immune to in childbearing years does not seem to be in their best interests.

There are about 240 strains of flu.The flu jab is a vaccine that has the 4 most prevalent strains - according to the WHO - each year.That's why even though I had the flu jab I still got flu last month.Just not the strain I had been vaccinated against.Also, the people who die from flu are without exception either the very young, very old, those with respitory issues or immuno compromised.

About 40 people die in the uk every year from flu, I believe. I wonder why we don't hear the same accusations of irresponsibility and selfishness against people who don't get, and make their children get, yearly flu jabs?

Seem to be a lot of people on these various threads believing they have a very good [insert reason here] argument no to vaccinate their children. Problem is, too many think like that and you get Swansea etc (and there will be others).

Seems to be a very British thing, the other countries vie lived in make it clear you will get the jabs or school and various public facilities are not open to you.

MMR does not cause autism. Autism is a developmental problem & with the benefit of hindsight, children with autism showed signs before they were diagnoses. Any "research" that suggested it might was flawed.

"Natural" immunity from catching the actual illness is no better than immunity conferred by immunisation.

I think immunisation ought to be required for a place in the education system.

There is much too much happy-clappy tripe spouted about "natural" healthcare in general - unsurprisingly a lot of the anti-vacc brigade think home births a sensible option.

crashdoll you are so right.its not just the child who has refused the mmr at risk its putting babies up to 12 months at risk,people with cancer,low immune systems caused by serious health problems,our future grandchildren as females are not given mmr jab.my views are everyone should be given the mmr except if the gp recommends against it.i would help in any way i could to safeguard a child ,i give to charity,i carry a organ donor card to help others should something happen to me.i want to help society.it upsets me and find it selfish when perfectly healthy children are not vaccinated putting mine and other peoples families at risk.if only we could all help each other like this team work for society instead of i will put my child at risk and others ,dont give to charity or help others attitude.

It should be mandatory except in cases of diagnosed autoimmune disorders which are proven to contraindicate vaccination.

How is that going to work then? I thought a lot of these conditions didn't show symptoms until well into adulthood. Or can people be tested for them when they are babies? (I haven't a clue if that is possible). Even if it is possible to test everybody before vaccinating them I doubt it will ever happen.

I doubt very few parents who's children haven't had the MMR isn't because they merely forgot - they have made a conscious decision and for many it is long thought out and agonised over.

It's not mandatory. Parents act in the interests of their own children and make decisions accordingly. Calling people selfish etc is pointless - you're not going to change somebody's mind by calling them names and ranting etc....

For all of you who in your opinion have done the right and noble thing and had the MMR done pat yourselves on the back and tell yourself you are a wonderful parent and a wonderful member of society.